Pleasure-machine



Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

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WI TNESSES INVENTOR HERMHN WYILKEN ATTORNEYS I H. WILKENS. PLEASURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1919. 1,334,727, Patented Mar. 23,1920.

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A TTORNE Y8 CJi HERMAN WILKENS, OF GRAFTON, V'IllEtGrI1\TI.An

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

PLEASURE-MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

Application filed January 23, 1919. Serial No. 272,687.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN WILKENS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Grafton, in the county of York and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Pleasure-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to amusement devices such as are commonly operated at seaside or other amusement resorts and has general reference to devices of the merrygo-round nature.

More specifically, however, the invention comprises a frame structure rotatable around a vertical axis and within and above a stationary annular trackway and having associated with the rotatable frame a large,

number of carriers for one or more passengers movably supported upon the trackway and caused to be actuated thereover by means that causes the rotation of the frame work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame movable in a circular path and having means for supporting a large number of pairs of bicycles movable side by side along and over the pathway.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrange ment and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a diagrammatic representation of my invention it being understood, however, that in the practice thereof as I have made and operated these machines the number of bicycles provided for is vastly in excess of the number indicated in this diagram.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the broken line 2-2' of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional detail on the line '33 of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional detail on the line 4 -1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig, 3 on the broken line 5-5 ther of? Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1 and partly 1n section 011 the line 6-6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a portion of the track looking toward the machine and indicating one of the elevations of the track and sectional structure thereof; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse sectional detail on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 showing the face View of one of the detachable track sections.

My machine comprises a rotatable frame 10 supported at its center upon a post or support 11 and having a hub 12 through which a center pin or post 13 passes vertically, thereby securing the frame from lateral displacement on the support 11'. Radiating outward from the hub 12 and secured at their inner ends thereto in any suitable manner are a multiplicity of spokes or stays 141 all secured at their outer ends through. couplings 15 to an annular rim 16. The hub 12, spokes 14, and rim 16 constitute in effect a large wheel adapted for rotation in a horizontal plane around a vertical central axis. At any suitable distance between the hub and the rim 16 is an annular bearing member 17 which likewise may be regarded as a part of the wheel. Any suitable means may be provided to cause or control the rotation of the wheel, such driving means be ing well known in this art for the actuation of other known pleasure machines. For the purpose, however, of indicating some actuation means for the wheel I indicate a motor M cooperatin with the bot tom surface of the ring 1 This motor may be electrically controlled in a well known manner or it may be operated by any other suitable prime mover and the ring is supported upon roller posts.

Surrounding the wheel and suitably sup ported upon the ground approximately in the same place as the support 11 for the hub 12 is a circular track structure 18. This track is sufficiently wideto accommodate a plurality of bicycles side by side and having sufficient circumference to accommodate a large number, say from forty to sixty bicycles, adapted to be actuated circumferentially along the trackway and with or by the wheel structure. I show these bicycles arranged in pairs, but obviously the number might be more or in some cases the bicycles bicycles by passing over the drop frame of the outer bicycle. This feature will be appreciated especially by reference to Figs. 1 and 6 wherein it is shown that the supporting means for the outer bicycle includes a pair'of parallel bars that would obstruct to a large extent the access to the inner bicycle except by the way indicated. The

track is preferably built of a succession or circular series of detachable sections of the track 18 These sectlons obviously are so built and'numbered that the assemblage of the trackjmay easily be effected by putting adjacent numbers of the sections directly together where they are held from radial displacement by means of dowels 19 and from circumferential displacement by means of suitable fasteners such as hooks 20 extending-from one section to the next. With the track built as indicated and just described there is" a very slight tendency for the track as a whole to either get out of shape or become displaced with reference to the axis of the entire machine. Any suitable portions of the track may be flat or level, while other portions may have any other suitable contour. My preferred construction of track surface is to provide, in addition tothe flat and level portions, one or more undulations between which may be concave valleys or other flat portions. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 9 the crest of each undulation is preferably inclined inward toward'the hub of the wheel. The surface of the track may be constructed of any suitable materials and if of wood the panels thereof may extend either radially or circumferentiall-y.

The bicycles above referred to are indi-' cated at 21 and 22, the latter being the type with drop frames. These bicycles in a general way are similar to ordinary bicycles, each having a pair of pedals 23 and a driving chain 24 which may actuate or tend to actuate the rearwheel as usual, but while I ordinarily employla slip clutchbetween the driving chain and the rear wheel such as has been used heretofore for coaster brakes, I db not employ a brake in connection with any of the bicycles. From this fact the riders are not enabled to stop or check the speed of the machine, although they may if enough of the riders are-so disposed cause the forward propulsion thereof. Again, the front wheels are preferably so adjusted asto' assume the proper angle to accommodate the several bicycles to the circular path over which they op- This provides not erate in accordance with the steering of an ordinary bicycle for operation over a similarly formed curve. I do not, however, provide for the individual swing or steering of the front wheels, such expedient being not only unnecesary, but might be accompanied with danger. As above suggested each pair or group of bicycles, if more than two are employed side by side, are coupled rigidly together by means of a U-shaped frame 25 including a pair of parallel extensions 25 extending directly between the parallel frames of the pair or group of bicycles. These yokes 25 are coupled to the bicycle frames by any suitable means such as clamps 26. Any suitable additional horizontal and vertical braces 27 and 28 respectively may be provided between each yoke 25 and each bicycle to suitably strengthen and rigidify the bicycle supporting and actuating means.

Spaced outward from the hub 12 is a, ring 29 concentric with the axis of the hub and held in place by means of a series of radial spokes or arms 30. This ring and the supporting arms therefor constitute an anchorage means for a series of radial bicycle supporting arms or bars 31, to the outer end of which is swiveled the yoke 25 through a bracket 32 shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. Each bracket 32' comprises upper and lower plates or halves secured together by belts or rivets 33 and having a connection with the outer end of the bar 31 providing for rotation of the bracket around the axis of such arm or bar. but preventing the longitudinal movement or displacement of the bracket. The crotch portion of the yoke 25 is clamped between the two halves of the bracket and is held thereby from all movement independent thereof. It will thus be seen that the bicycle or bicycles connected to a. yoke 25 and held in definite position beyond the outer end of a bar 31 are permitted to rock freely in vertical planes around the axis of the bar, incident to the undulating eontour of the track-way. but are held from all lateral movement with respect to the bar and wheel as a whole.

From what has been stated above it will be appreciated that the main wheel first described is confined for operation in a hori- Zontal plane, and hence is free from tilting 'motion. The bicycles, however, being subjected to the undulating contour of the trackway obviously are caused to rise and fall with respect to the plane of the main wheel. Some suitable means, therefore, mustbe provided to accommodate the vertical movements of the bicycles and the bars 31 and yet insure that reliable forward propulsion of the bicycles will be effected from the main wheel and through the tilting bars 31. To this end I provide for each bar 31 a pair of inner and outer upright stanchions 34 and 35 respectively. The stanchions 34 are illustrated in detail in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, each comprising a pair of vertical parallel posts 36 having a cross connection 37 at their upper ends. The lower ends of the posts 36 are secured in a base plate 38 fixed to a portion of the ring 17. The space between the posts 36 provides for free vertical movement not only of the b r 31 but also a roller 30 both carried by a pair of bearing blocks 40 clamped to the bar 31 and serving to hold the roller with its axis in the horizontal plane of the center of the bar 31. The roller 39 is adapted to roll anti-fricti0nally along the inner surface of the post 36 at the rear thereof, speaking with reference to the direction of movement of the wheel or frame. In other words the ring 17 being; driven and carrying with it the stanchions 3-1 the post bearing forward against the roller 39 will insure the forward movement of the bar 31 and the bicycle at the outer end thereof irrespective of the vertical movements of the bar. The stanchions 35 project upward from the outer ends of the spokes 14 and are maintained in upright position by being supported in the coupling blocks 15. The stanchions 35 are essentially of the same structure as the stanchions 34-. including front and rear posts 41 and 42, see Figs. 6 and 7, said rear post hearing forward against an anti-friction roller 43 ournaled in a pair of bearing blocks 4:4: clamped to the bar 31 near its outer end.

I claim:

1. In a pleasure apparatus, the combination of a circular frame, means to support and propel the frame around a vertical axis, a plurality of passenger carriers, means conneeting the carriers to the frame for positive propulsion thereof with the frame around said axis, but permitting vertical movements of the carriers independently of one another, said connecting means for each carrier including a rigid bar and a bracket swiveled for vertical tilting movement around the axis of the bar but holding the carrier rigid with the bar with respect to tilting movements perpendicular to the bar, and stationary supporting means over and upon which the carriers are supported and operated, said supporting means having means to cause the vertical tilting 1novements of the carriers during their progress around said axis.

2. I11 a pleasure apparatus, the combination of a frame, including a series of radial bars, means to actuate the frame around a center, a plurality of passenger carrying bicycles attached to the ends of the bars, the connection with each bar being independent of other bars, and a stationary support over and upon which said bicycles operate, each bicycle being free to tilt around the axis of its own bar, but held from other movements with respect thereto.

3. In a pleasure apparatus, the combination of a frame, means to actuate the main frame around a vertical center, a circular series of pairs of parallel bicycles, means including a U-sha ed frame to rigidly secure each pair of icycles together side by side, means to swivel each U-shaped frame to the main frame for vertical tilting movements, and a stationary support for the bicycles Wide enough to accommodate both bicycles of each pair.

4. In a pleasure device, the combination of a frame, means to rotate said frame around a vertical axis, a plurality of bars having their inner ends pivotally connected to the frame, the outer ends of the bars being movable vertically independent of one another with respect to the frame, a passenger carrier swiveled to the outer end of each bar for free rotation around the axis thereof but being held by the swivel means from all movement in other directions with respect to the axis of said bar, means to positively cause the propulsion of the bars and carriers with the frame around said axis, and supporting means independent of the frame for the carriers.

5. In a pleasure apparatus, the combination of a frame, means to support and propel the frame around a vertical. axis, a series of bars movably connected to the. frame providing for independent vertical movements of the bars with respect to the frame, means to cause the bars to be rotated around said axis with the frame, a carrier for each bar, means connecting the carrier to the outer end of the bar providing for partial rota tion of the carrier with respect to the axis of the bar but holding the carrier otherwise from independent movement, and means independent of the frame to support the carrier and having an undulating surface serving to cause the aforesaid rotation of the carrier with respect to the bar and vertical movement of the carrier and bar with respect to the frame while being propelled around the axis of the frame.

HERMAN WILKINS. 

